News

Operation Christmas Drop Wraps With New Milestone

12/17/2014

AFA Caption

Islanders
show their appreciation of Operation Christmas Drop by leaving a holiday
message for C-130 aircrews dropping supplies to the islands Dec. 11, 2014, over
the Pacific Ocean. Air Force photo by A1C Amanda Morris.

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Mobility airmen from
Yokota AB, Japan dropped the last bundle
of Operation Christmas Drop over the Micronesian Islands on Dec. 13,
setting a new milestone for the annual humanitarian mission, which dates back
to 1952. Supported by airmen from the 36th Wing at Andersen AFB, Guam, C-130
crews flew missions to some 56 islands across the Pacific Ocean, delivering
more than 51,000 pounds of supplies. Eighty-nine bundles of goods were
airdropped to islands such as Chuuk, Palau, Yap, the Marshall Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and included toys, clothes,
fishing equipment, sports equipment, food, tools, and other items. Planning for
this year’s operation began six months ago, including participation from airmen
at Andersen, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and at Yokota. The benefits of the
program are “truly lifesaving,” said Pacific Program Coordinator Bruce Best.
“In some cases, this is literally the only chance we have all year to get much
needed supplies to obscure island nations.”